Canadiens Lineup

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Artturi Lehkonen – Max Domi – Nick Suzuki 

Nick Cousins – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Joel Armia

Charles Hudon – Nate Thompson – Jordan Weal

Victor Mete – Shea Weber

Ben Chiarot – Jeff Petry

Gustav Olofsson – Cale Fleury

Keith Kinkaid – Carey Price

Christian Folin, Brett Kulak, Mike Reilly

Paul Byron, Jonathan Drouin

Game Report

During a month in which the team was gifted an opportunity to accumulate wins and points, the Montreal Canadiens folded. They closed November with seven consecutive losses. And to open December, the Habs will fly to Boston to face the league’s best team.

Today’s matinee affair was better. The Canadiens played a slow, boring first period of hockey focused on limiting Philly chances. Montreal led after the first period courtesy of a soft goal allowed by Brian Elliot just 19 seconds into the contest. 

The game opened up in the second frame but Montreal forwards did a good job of supporting the team’s defensive play. The Habs neutral zone play was much improved and they did not allow odd-man rushes. It allowed the home side to stay close.

For their part, Philadelphia looked tired in the second half of a back-to-back struggling to create offence. The Flyers were only able to generate five high danger scoring chances in almost 61 minutes of play.

But these two teams are headed in opposite directions. While the Canadiens extended their losing streak, the Flyers earned the most point in the NHL in November (including two overtime wins over Montreal.)

Philadelphia added impactful talent in the off-season and their young players are being trusted in key roles by the coaching staff. Those are lessons lost on the folks running the home team.

Victor Mete suffered a lower body injury during the game and did not return. Mete will be evaluated on Sunday and will not travel to Boston.

Plus / Minus

▲  Joel Armia, Artturi Lehkonen, Tomas Tatar, Shea Weber

▼  Jeff Petry, Max Domi, Gustav Olofsson